Sennius flinte

Viana, Jéssica Herzog & Ribeiro-Costa, Cibele Stramare, 2013, Review of the largest species group of the New World seed beetle genus Sennius Bridwell (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), with host plant associations, Zootaxa 3736 (5), pp. 501-535 : 512-514

Sennius flinte sp nov.

( Figs 21–28 )

Description. Dimension. BL: 1.8–2.3 mm; BW: 1.2–1.5 mm.

Integument color. Body reddish to dark brown ( Figs 21–24 ), except antennomeres 1–4 red-orange, 5–11 dark brown ( Figs 23, 24 ), fore and mid leg red-orange and hind leg pale to dark brown ( Fig. 22 ).

Pubescence. Head with small dense white patch of setae posterior to post-ocular lobe and in ocular sinus, remainder of head with moderately dense white setae ( Figs 22, 23 ). Pronotal white setae sparse, except dense patch on lateral third. Elytra with white dense patch on submedian region of 4th to 10th interstices and base of 5th and 6th interstices; generally moderately dense white setae on 1st and 3rd interstices, except apically, apex from 4th to 6th interstices with sparser white setae, remainder with sparse black setae ( Fig. 21 ). Ventral surface with white setae denser at base of mesepimerum, posterior region of metepisternum and on distal region of hind coxa ( Fig. 22 ). Pygidium with sparse golden and white setae, white setae denser at anterolateral corners and on mediobasal region, forming narrow midline until close to apex ( Fig. 24 ).

Head with frons slightly convex, frontal carina slightly evident and ocular sinus slightly deep, less than half length of eye ( Fig. 23 ). Antennomeres 1 and 2 moniliform, 3 and 4 filiform, 5–10 wider than long, 11 globular but pointed apically. Disc of pronotum strongly sulcate at basal lobe. Elytra without denticle at strial base. Hind femur on ventral margin with very prominent tooth (0.03–0.07 mm), microserrate ( Fig. 25 ); hind tibia without lateroventral carina ( Fig. 26 ).

Male genitalia. Median lobe weakly sclerotized, about 5.1 times longer than wide medially, apex slightly expanded. Ventral valve rounded with truncate apex and lateral margins convex. Internal sac with hinge sclerites short, straight with base broader; apical region without spicules; subapical region continuing with group of short spicules of apical region; submedian region with two denser groups of long spicules; latero-basal lobes of internal sac with dense and short spicules; basal region with denticles denser near gonopore ( Fig. 27 ). Tegmen with lateral lobes separated by emargination, about 0.7 times their length ( Fig. 28 ).

Material examined. Types (38): Holotype, allotype deposited in DZUP. Holotype labels: “Capão Bonito-SP/ 04- VI-92 / W. R. Silva/ M. M. A. Oliveira col. ”(Light brown) “ HOLOTYPE \ Sennius flinte \ Viana & Ribeiro- Costa”(Red). Allotype labels: same of holotype except last label: “ALLOTYPE \ Sennius flinte \ Viana & Ribeiro- Costa”(Red). 36 paratypes deposited in MZSP, MNRJ, TAMU, USNM, FSCA, CEAM and CNCI. Labels: BRA: São Paulo: 22, “Capão Bonito-SP/ 04-VI-92 / W. R. Silva/ M. M. A. Oliveira col.”(Light brown) “ PARATYPE \ Sennius flinte \ Viana & Ribeiro-Costa”(Yellow) (13, DZUP; 2, MZSP; 2, MNRJ; 1, TAMU; 1, USNM; 1, FSCA; 1, CEAM; 1, CNCI). Minas Gerais: 9, “ Brasil, Minas Gerais, Lavras \ 920m, 21º 13’39”S \ 44º59’00” O, 20/VIII/ 2009 \ L. D. B. Faria col.”(White) “Pl. hosp. \ Senna multijuga \ ( Fabaceae )”(White) and same paratype label (1, DZUP; 1, MNRJ; 1, TAMU; 2, USNM; 2, FSCA; 1, CEAM; 1, CNCI). 5,“ Brasil, Minas Gerais, Lavras \ 920m, 21º 13’39”S \ 44º59’00” O, 07/VIII/2009 \ L. D. B. Faria col.”(White) “Pl. hosp. \ Senna multijuga \ ( Fabaceae )”(White) and same paratype label (1, DZUP; 1, MZSP; 1, TAMU; 1, CEAM; 1, CNCI).

Distribution. BRA (São Paulo).

Host plant. FABACEAE : Caesalpinioideae : Senna multijuga .

Diagnosis. Sennius flinte sp. nov. (subgroup 2) differs from all species of the S. abbreviatus group by the color of the integument and the pubescenceon the dorsum. The male genitalia of this species is most similar to that of S. durangensis (subgroup 2), by having hinge sclerites more elongated and almost straight. Both species can be separated mainly by the color of the elytra, which is entirely brown in Sennius flinte sp. nov. and black with pale macula in S. durangensis . The male genitalia of both species also differ in the groups of spicules on the subapical region and on the latero-basal lobes, which are denser in Sennius flinte sp. nov. than in S. durangensis .

Etymology. The specific name “ flinte ” is in honor of Dra. Vivian Flinte , for her great professional and personal contribution in instructing J. H. Viana. This is a noun in apposition, gender feminine.

Figures

FIGURES 21 – 28. Sennius flinte sp. nov. 21, dorsal view; 22, lateral view; 23, head, frontal view; 24, pygidium; 25, part of hind leg, internal view; 26, hind tibia, external view; 27, 28 male genitalia: 27, median lobe with hinge sclerites, others sclerites magnified and latero-basal lobes of internal sac; 28, tegmen.